A-C freezes Mounts with big second period flurry

Ephrata opened the 2011 ice hockey season with an 8-4 loss to Annville-Cleona on Monday night at Lancaster Ice Rink. Josh Buohl picked up two goals and an assist.

The team honored Nate Haller with a moment of silence prior to the game. Haller played for Ephrata from 2004 to 2006 and was a member of the 2006 championship team. He was killed in a car accident last March.

The Dutchmen have a bigger team than the Mounts and have some players with extremely hard and accurate shooting skills. They came out running and gunning and managed five quick shots to go along with other excellent opportunities during the opening half of the first period. Only strong goaltending by Dylan Bowen kept the game scoreless.

"He was keeping us in the game," said Coach Kevin Davis. "We only one shot in the first. He faced nine shots in the period."

The Mounts struck gold with their first shot of the season when Buohl buried the puck past the A-C goalie with 6:51 left in the period.

"(Our player) acted like he was going around the net," said Buohl. "I just came in and sprinted to the front. He put in front to me for an easy goal." Carson Good was credited with the assist.

Annville kept up the pressure and finally scored with 4:40 left in the first when Andrew Jocham put a bullet on the net that left Bowen little chance to catch.

Three minutes later, A-C took the lead on a backhand shot by Cody Brightbill and the Dutchmen finished the first with a 2-1 lead.

The second period began with Ephrata sustaining the attack early with the aid of two consecutive Annville penalties. Trevor Seibel opened the scoring at 12:35 with Buohl assisting. Nineteen seconds later, Buohl picked up his second goal when he rammed home the puck from the side of the net after Seibel fed him from behind the goal.

"We like to start our power play from behind the net and work it around the net," explained Buohl.

Trevor Boyer finished Ephrata’s string of quick goals when he put home the puck on a partial break with 11:59 left in the second.

Annville-Cleona has a deep, experienced and tall roster and their older players took control of the period from the 10-minute mark as they opened with the first of six-straight goals. Of the four players who scored the six goals, only one is under six foot and all are juniors.

"I think we got a little sloppy and they have players who can jump all over that," said Davis. "We were controlling the play. The power play, which we are working on again this year, seemed to do well. We scored those power plays and I think we got comfortable and lost focus. It took us a while to get it back."

The Mounts have experienced players now since most have played together for several seasons. They regained their focus enough in the third period to limit A-C to five shots and no goals. Buohl said the team did not get down on each other but they expect more of themselves by now.

"We got bigger and faster over the summer," said Buohl. "We know we’re better than that." More HOCKEY, page B-4